ANCC Updates Nursing Certifications, Credentials

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is changing the names of its Nursing Administration certification exams and updating the credentials to bring them in line with contemporary health care culture and terminology.

The changes are effective immediately. The term "Nurse Executive" does not refer to a job title or position, but to the body of knowledge suitable for an executive decision maker.

According to ANCC, the Nurse Executive and Nurse Executive, Advanced certifications are appropriate for a broad range of nursing roles, including all types of supervisors, managers, consultants, chief nursing officers (CNOs), faculty, deans, and leaders.

With the changes, the old certification name Nursing Administration and the old CNA-BC credential become Nurse Executive and NE-BC which stands for Nurse Executive-Board Certified. Likewise, the old certification name Nursing Administration, Advanced and the old credential CNAA-BC become Nurse Executive, Advanced and NEA-BC whichstands for Nurse Executive, Advanced-Board Certified.

ANCC's Commission on Certification studied this issue extensively and surveyed thousands of certified nurse leaders before making this decision. Various names and credential options were considered, however, Nurse Executive and Nurse Executive, Advanced were the options supported by certified nurse leaders as reflecting these broad decision making roles.

ANCC-certified nurses who hold the former credentials CNA-BC and CNAA-BC are authorized to begin using the new NE-BC and NEA-BC credentials immediately.

Certificates issued after the May 2008 certification exam will contain the new credentials. Certificates reflecting the new credentials will be mailed to current CNA-BC and CNAA-BC nurses with their next certification renewal.

Additonally, ANCC will be launching updated, computer-based Nurse Executive and Nurse Executive, Advanced certification examinations in October. The computer-based format is more convenient, according to ANCC, and can be scheduled and taken throughout the year, better fitting the schedule of busy nurse executives. The new test content outlines will be available in late May.

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